WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-sealing grand slam in the ninth inning, Matt Olson hit a first-inning home run while tying the franchise record for consecutive games played and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5. The Braves were leading 6-5 when Yastrzemski connected off Dennis Santana for his third career slam. Olson’s homer was a solo shot and his 25th season, opening the scoring. The first baseman played in his 740th straight game, going back to the start of the 2022 season, and tied the mark set by Dale Murphy from 1982-86. The Pirated dropped two-of-three to the Braves and now open a weekend series with division-leading Milwaukee at PNC Park that will take them to the All Star break.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, keeping their rising star at an extraordinary cost. The 21-year-old Carlsson is now the NHL’s highest-paid player under the five-year, $90 million deal extended by the Flyers one week ago. Carlsson agreed to the offer sheet with the Flyers after a year of fruitless negotiations with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose hardline approach in contract negotiations with his young core backfired tremendously this time. Carlsson’s new contract is worth much more than anyone expected he would get as a restricted free agent.

U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans’ World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several weeks. Pulisic has a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia and fibula, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation. The diagnosis was made after an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday. He is expected to be able to resume training before AC Milan’s opener at Torino on Aug. 23. Pulisic hit a leg of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot in the 52nd minute of Monday’s 4-1 round-of-16 loss at Seattle.